CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Kayla Paulson picked a perfect time for her coming-out party.
The freshman midfielder scored the first two goals of her career to help the Ursinus College field hockey team climb out of a second-half deficit and escape a long road trip to Washington College with a hard-earned 2-1 victory on Wednesday night. Paulson's heroics – notably the game-winner with 9:47 to play off a feed from classmate Devon Carroll – ensured Ursinus of a first-round bye in the upcoming conference playoffs.
Ursinus (9-7, 7-2) fell into an early hole when Megan Ritchey converted a penalty stroke to put the Shorewomen (9-7, 6-3) on top 1-0 just over 16 minutes into the contest. The Bears earned five corners in the first half, but only managed two total shots as they went into the break trailing.
Ursinus found its footing on the attack in the second stanza, outshooting Washington College by a 12-3 count. Shorewomen keeper Morgan Domenico made six saves in the first six minutes of the frame, including three in a row at one point, but was unable to prevent Paulson's quick shot off a cross into the middle by junior Maria DiCioccio as the rookie's first collegiate goal evened the spread with 28:49 remaining.
Paulson struck again in the 61st minute, when Carroll's cross through a crowd found her at the left post for the go-ahead marker.
The Bears had to survive an extra-time scare. Washington College earned two penalty corners with the clock expired – the second nearly resulted in a tying goal, but Maggie Cancelmo's shot hit the post and Ursinus skirted the specter of overtime.
Paulson matched classmate Gabriella Howell and sophomore Erin Saybolt with three shots as the Bears posted a 14-5 edge, and an 11-6 surplus in corners. Ursinus forced Domenico into nine saves, while junior keeper Jules Singer made just one in the victory.
With the victory, Ursinus is locked into a matchup with the loser of Saturday's Johns Hopkins-Franklin & Marshall game in the Centennial Conference semifinals next Saturday, November 4. The winner of that Hopkins-F&M clash will clinch the top seed and host the playoffs, while the Shorewomen will be at home for the first-round contest.
Before the postseason rolls around, the Bears conclude the regular season at Bryn Mawr on Saturday, October 28.